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Response to the Comment by Bloc Québécois candidate Yvon Lévesque...

Response to the Comment by Bloc Québécois candidate Yvon Lévesque

Statement of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)

Posted: 2011-04-03

Romeo Saganash is running in the federal election for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the
northern riding of Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou. Until recently, Mr. Saganash served as
our Director of Québec Relations and International Affairs for 18 years.

Romeo Saganash is a highly qualified candidate. He is a law graduate of the Université du
Québec in Montreal and is fluent in Cree, English and French. He is a long-time advocate in
human rights and has extensive knowledge in international and Canadian law in a wide range
of areas. His broad experience in national and global issues and expertise in bridging diverse
cultures in Québec make him highly suited to represent all constituents in his riding.

On March 31, 2011, the incumbent candidate for the Bloc Québécois, Yvon Lévesque, made the
following comment:

Some voters will not choose the New Democratic Party any more, now that it has
introduced an Aboriginal candidate. [unofficial translation]

Yvon Lévesque is not a racist. However, his statement is totally inappropriate. It invites a
discriminatory response from certain voters based on race or ethnicity. It is inconsistent with
principles of equality and diversity.

The next day, April 1, Mr. Lévesque issued the following apology:

I offer my sincerest apologies to Romeo Saganash as well as all Aboriginal people
in Quebec who may have been impacted by my words. My statement was totally
inappropriate and I retract it. I hope that my unfortunate remarks will not harm
the important advances of Aboriginal communities for which the Bloc Québécois
fought for many years. [unofficial translation]

As affirmed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted
overwhelmingly by the General Assembly in 2007:

... indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right of
all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different, and to be respected as
such ...

Hopefully, there are positive lessons to learn from this incident. All cultures contribute to the
common heritage of humankind.